Thanks Aquamarine! I can't tell you how much your comment thrills me. I love the fact that we get to share ideas on this forum, particularly when we are all in different parts of the world.

Jenni, thanks. I hadn't actually noticed that matchy matchy aspect, but now that I do it pushes my buttons too!

Sara, yes bare midriff at work is probably not a great idea. Fortunately I don't have to reach up often! Thanks for your comments.

Dana, sorry about your pants My dog walking activities on the weekend are fairly social. I go to a dog park where lots of neighborhood people hang out, and we all end up chatting while the dogs play and sometimes we go for coffee. So I try to make a bit of an effort. But it's got to be practical too: I have to have comfy shoes and sun protection and the outfit has to be dirt resistant, because the puppy dogs will jump on you

Thanks Joy. I have heard that about the coating coming off. I have a pair of full length flared jeans that are coated and they say hand wash only. I haven't worn them yet, but hand washing jeans is going to be a real pain. I probably shouldn't have kept them. The ones I am wearing in the pics are machine washable. Because I will treat them as dressy jeans (rather than dog walking jeans), I hopefully wont have to wash them too often, which should make them last longer. I hope so, because the coating is really lovely.

And thanks Lisa and Janet!

These looks are so great! I'm always on the lookout for other blondes rocking dark colors since I'm very drawn to them, but I sometimes fear they wash me out. The cognac of the shoes bookending your hair is great too as Angie points out!